I’d have never thought that Birmingham, Alabama would have so many good Martini Bars, but if you’re in the mood for a cocktail that looks pretty and still packs a good punch, try one of the favorite hangouts of the locals:

Amani Raha Martini Bar is in the historic Martin Biscuit Building in Pepper Place (2901 2nd Avenue South. This trendy club, whose name means peace and happiness in Swahili, is co-owned by the Dallas Cowboys Terrell Owens and has a smooth, mellow atmosphere - just like their martinis!

The Birmingham Martini Bar in the Hotel Highland is simply called The H. You’ll find 1023 20th Street South in the lobby of a stylishly renovated hotel in the popular Five Points South neighborhood. It’s a convenient venue to see and be seen or to meet up with friends before a night on the town.

Base Camp Lounge at 1024 20th Street South is a livelier venue with pool table, karaoke and local bands playing on one or both of their stages most weekends. Martini offerings include both the classics and more exotic mixtures, like the Black Eye and the Kilted Yak.

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Who’d have ever thought that a family beach resort on the Gulf Coast of Alabama would become an incredible concert venue?

Well, you’re right, Britney and Mariah and Justin don’t perform here – not yet, anyway. But Steppenwolf, ZZ Top, Widespread Panic, The Black Crows and Hank Williams, Jr, did in Summer 2007 at the 10,000 seat Ampitheater at The Wharf in Orange Beach. Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace - with opener Seether - will kick off the 2008 concert season on Sunday March 2nd.

At the other end of the spectrum, The Orange Beach Art Center holds more intimate musical events on the third Sunday of most months. These acoustic events are part potluck, part entertainment, with two 60 minute music sets separated by a “munch and mingle” break. A local restaurant provides the main dish and concert goers bring a dish to share. The usual non-alcoholic libations are provided, as well, and you may bring whatever else you’d like to drink.

The Erie Meyer Civic Center, next door in Gulf Shores, offers something in between, with acts like Pam Tillis, Roger Williams, the Les Brown Orchestra and Men of the Deeps (a Coal Miner’s Choir) scheduled for 2008.

For places to stay, Orange Beach vacation rentals are very popular and allow the most flexibility for hosting your own weekend party with friends and family. You’ll also find the usual chain hotels and, hopefully. the town’s only a bed and breakfast will reopen soon after being badly damaged by a hurricane.

Aaaaaaaah…the Emerald Coast. Sounds exotic, doesn’t it? And expensive? And far away? Well, it’s none of those things.

The Emerald Coast is the section of northwestern Florida and southern Alabama that extends along the Gulf of Mexico - an area of silky white sand beaches that runs roughly from Mobile to Apalachicola.

How did it get it’s name? If you ask a local, they’ll likely tell you it’s due to the clear, emerald-green waters they enjoy. My bet is a crafty marketer needed something to call it other than the Redneck Riviera, as it’s also known.

The area is a driving destination for vacationers from all over the southeast and offers something for everyone. However, it’s important that you do a little research before you pack, as different areas of the coast have very different personalities.

Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach is one of the most affordable and best known vacation resorts along the Emerald Coast and offers a wide variety of accommodations, from cozy cottages to high rise luxury condos. Be certain to get knowledgeable, professional help in choosing the vacation rental type and location that’s right for you to insure either a quiet family vacation or a more exciting spring break experience. There’s something for everyone in Panama City Beach!

Destin
This is a more sedate, upscale area for an Emerald Coast vacation. It occupies the tip of a peninsula laden with golf courses. Destin is a world famous deep-sea fishing and sea-shell collecting area. It offers respite for families and others who are interested in a quiet and relaxing trip to the beach. Your best bet for lodging along this stretch of shoreline is a Destin vacation rental, where you can enjoy all the comforts of home at a reasonable price. Condos, villas, townhomes and private beach houses are all available and many offer most of the amenities of a hotel. You get much more room and privacy than a hotel at about the same price.

Apalachicola
This is the place you want to go if you’d like to experience Florida the way it used to be. The laid back atmosphere compliments the historic district, which is undergoing revitalization. This is also where you should go if you love fresh seafood-especially oysters- and want to eat it everyday. Nearby are miles and miles of undeveloped beaches, a national forest, nature preserves and several state parks.

Gulf Shores
Gulf Shores, at the opposite end of the Emerald Coast from Apalachicola is a family destination resort for southern Alabama, particularly nearby Mobile. It offers a variety of beaches, along with boat rentals and fishing and natural areas preserved in a pristine state. Kids love seeing the nesting sea turtles that visit each year.

The clear green waters and perfect white beaches of this popular vacation area, just west of the Florida-Alabama border, make it a vacation destination and a weekend getaway spot for all of southern Alabama. Only recently has the rest of the country begun to feel the tug of its attraction.

No matter what you fancy in a beach vacation, you’ll find it here. Surrounded by water, anglers get the best of all worlds - bay, surf, lake and deep sea fishing . The climate is mild enough to permit golfing year round and some of the course, like Kiva Dunes, roll right up to the beach.

There are historical attractions, like Fort Morgan and plenty of places, to immerse yourself in and learn about the tidal ecosystem, including the amazing nesting sea turtles. And, of course, there are the awesome beaches.

To get the most from your visit, stay at a Gulf Shores condo resort complex. Look for one that offers full resort amenities, is close to what you like to do and offers enough fun activities to keep the kids busy while you lounge.

Personally, I never thought of Alabama as a great beach vacation, but boy was I worng. I suspect the natives would like to keep this secret to themselves. The sands are fine white “sugar”. The waters glow in cool emerald and the combination is irresistable.

In addition to ocean beaches, this intricate tidal area is laced with rivers, deltas, back bays, lagoons, lakes and bayous. To get you started, here a few of the most popular places for sun, surf and sand:

Fort Morgan

The main attraction in this area is the Bon Secour (safe harbor, in French) National Wildlife Refuge, which has 6800 acres devoted to habitat for native plants, migratory birds, nesting sea turtles and, yes, the endangered Alabama beach mouse. You can park at the end of Mobile Street or approach the all-natural beach through the sea palmettos and dunes of the Pine Beach Trail.

Gulf Shores

The most popular beach is at the end of Highway 59, where most of the action is. You’ll find a large parking lot, boardwalk, pavilions, beach volleyball, restrooms and places to eat and drink. This is also where the National Shrimp Festival is held - an enormous seafood celebration that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every October.
Public parking and beach access is available at 2nd, 5th, 6th and 13th Streets. if you’re lucky enough to be staying at one of the many condos in the Gulf Shores section, there’s also convenient pedestrian access at 4th Street.

Gulf State Park

Elbow room and every imaginable facility are the highlights of this coastal playground. Besides about 2 miles of ocean beach, there are two large lakes and a long lagoon to fish and frolic in. The park is outfitted to accommodate large groups, with an enormous pavilion on the beach and a picnic area on Lake Shelby. There’s a nature center with interpretive trails, camping, RV spots and nice cabins you can rent by the night or by the week.

Orange Beach

Perdido Point, with over a mile of shoreline, and Cotton Bayou Beach are the best public beaches in this area. Both offer parking and Perdido Point has long boardwalk for strolling, as well. Surfers congregate at Alabama Point just inland from Perdido Point.